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Glass vs. Plastic: Life Cycle Assessment of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Bottles across Global Supply Chains

Author

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  • Riccardo Accorsi

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna—Alma Mater Studiorum; Viale Risorgimento, 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Versari

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna—Alma Mater Studiorum; Viale Risorgimento, 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Riccardo Manzini

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna—Alma Mater Studiorum; Viale Risorgimento, 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

The environmental impacts of global food supply chains are growing with the need for their measurement and management. This paper explores the operations of a global supply chain for extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) according to a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The LCA assessment methodology is applied to determine the environmental impact categories associated with the bottled EVOO life cycle, focusing on packaging decisions. The proposed analysis identifies the greatest environmental stressors of the EVOO supply chain, thereby supporting strategic and operative decisions toward more efficient and environmentally-friendly operations management and packaging choices. This paper quantifies the environmental categories of the impacts of global warming potential, ozone layer depletion, non-renewable energy use, acidification, eutrophication and photochemical smog, for the observed EVOO supply chain, given alternative packaging configurations, i.e. , a glass bottle vs. a plastic bottle. The observed system includes the supply of EVOO, the EVOO processing and bottling, the supply of packaging, the distribution of final products to customers, the end-of-life (EOL) treatments regarding the management, recycling and the disposal of waste across a global supply chain. The findings from the LCA highlight the potential of PET bottles in reducing the environmental impact of EVOO supply chains and identifies hotspots of discussion for policy-makers, EVOO producers and consumers.

Suggested Citation

  • Riccardo Accorsi & Lorenzo Versari & Riccardo Manzini, 2015. "Glass vs. Plastic: Life Cycle Assessment of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Bottles across Global Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:3:p:2818-2840:d:46537
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Carmen Ferrara & Giovanni De Feo, 2023. "Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Two Different Packaging Systems for Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Glass Bottle vs. 100% Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Bottle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Álvaro J. Arnal & Patricia Royo & Gianpiero Pataro & Giovanna Ferrari & Víctor J. Ferreira & Ana M. López-Sabirón & Germán A. Ferreira, 2018. "Implementation of PEF Treatment at Real-Scale Tomatoes Processing Considering LCA Methodology as an Innovation Strategy in the Agri-Food Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-16, March.
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